The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk – is a bestselling collection of real-life short stories by the acclaimed Indian author and philanthropist Sudha Murty. The book, a non-fiction work, is known for its simple, engaging narrative style and the profound life lessons it imparts through anecdotes from various people Murty has met during her travels as a social worker and writer. The titular story describes a transformative experience Murty had while volunteering in a drought-stricken or flood-affected village in Odisha (formerly Orissa). She took shelter in a poor family’s hut, and despite their own lack of supplies, her hosts were willing to give up a precious resource—their only share of milk—to serve her as a guest, in accordance with Indian customs. This act of immense selflessness and the profound generosity of the impoverished woman taught Murty a life lesson she never forgot, leading to her personal decision to stop drinking milk as a reminder of that sacrifice.